Mangum aiming to infuse Pirates' outfield with inspired play

Jake Mangum may have debuted in the Majors last year, but his statistical claim to fame is from the collegiate ranks, holding the all-time SEC hit record. Mangum loved his time at Mississippi State and didn’t want to leave, but he can now joke: “That record just means I stayed too long.”

Staying in college an extra year ended up causing some complications for his pro career. He had a brief taste of pro ball after being drafted by the Mets in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the '20 Minor League season, meaning he didn’t get a proper first season until '21.

Being away from the game for that year, one belief he always held true was firmly reinforced.

“That I love the game, I’ll do whatever it takes to become the best version of myself,” Mangum said over the phone to MLB.com.

That attitude is evident on the field. Mangum was the Rays’ Heart and Hustle nominee last season, recognized for his style of play. The Pirates also took notice of his play and production, acquiring him last week alongside infielder Brandon Lowe and lefty Mason Montgomery in their biggest move of the offseason thus far. The Pirates are still exploring other additions to the lineup, but Mangum looks like he should factor into their outfield mix this season.

Mangum, 29, slashed .296/.330/.368 with three home runs and 40 RBIs over 428 plate appearances last season, but he made his biggest impact in the field and on the bases. He was valued at six Outs Above Average, according to Baseball Savant, without making an error at any of the three outfield spots. He also stole 27 bases, and he used that good foot speed to leg out 32 infield hits, tied with Trea Turner of the Phillies for the most in baseball.

That style of hustle and fundamental baseball, as well as his attitude, endeared him to Rays fans and to his clubhouse. Even just speaking on the phone, there’s an earnestness and enthusiasm in his voice that you can tell is infectious.

“Mangum's just a ballplayer, man -- in every sense of the word,” Lowe said Monday over Zoom. “... I would be hard pressed to find somebody with more heart and more drive to want to give you everything that he has than Mangum. He's gonna run hard on every single play, doesn't matter if he chops it back to the pitcher or if he hits it off the wall. It feels like he's gonna give you the same amount of effort on everything. And he's gonna play an unbelievable outfield when he's out there.

“If last year was any clue to what he's gonna do, that means he's gonna hit .300, he's gonna steal a lot of bags, and he's going to be a heck of a piece in this lineup.”

As a rookie, Mangum spent time last year becoming familiar with the speed of the Major League game and learning where he wants to improve. A big takeaway from that first taste of The Show was that he should work to impact the baseball more, making it a central part of his offseason.

“Last year, if I had a 3-1 count, I’d just try to hit a backside line drive and just hit a single,” Mangum said. “Singles are great, you’re never upset with a hit, but I’m trying to impact the baseball more in advantage counts. I feel like I’m always able to find some holes and run as fast as I can, and I’m going to continue to do that, no doubt. That’s who I am as a player. But I’m just trying to add a club to the bag while trying to do what I do best even better, which is put the ball in play and run fast.”

Mangum’s been doing that offseason work, coincidentally, at the same facility as top prospect Konnor Griffin. Both went to Jackson Preparatory School growing up and have gotten to know each other the last few years.

So while it’s still a bit off in the future, there’s a good chance the Pirates' lineup this season could feature two players from Flowood, Miss.

“Pittsburgh’s gonna have a lot of Mississippi fans, that’s for sure,” Mangum said.

Of course, nothing in baseball is guaranteed, especially spots on the roster and in the lineup. The mantra around the Pirates is to control what you can control, and Mangum knows what that looks like.

“There’s two promises I can make,” Mangum said. “I’m going to work as hard as I can, and I’m going to play as hard as I can. I can definitely promise those two things.”